What Are Hardscapes?
If you are going through the process of renovating or building your home, then chances are you are going to be learning a lot of new terminology. One of those words that you may hear thrown around is “hardscapes.” If you’re feeling curious and want to know about what hardscapes are and why you might want them, then follow along with us through this article!
What is it?
Let’s start at the top: what exactly is a hardscape? It’s pretty simple; a hardscape is any solid, non-living element in landscaping. What does that include? Everything from patios and driveways to firepits and retaining walls.
Think about what your yard looks like currently. Do you have a pool with a nice deck and a grill area? Do you have a patio with a wooden arbor to relax under? Anything that is a non-plant part of your yard could count as a hardscape.
Why would I want one?
Now that you know what hardscapes are, let’s talk about why you may want to invest in some. Hardscapes will do wonders to your home’s outdoor area. They will add functionality and beauty to the space by giving you some nice features to work around. Add landscape lighting for that wow factor. Let’s talk about a few popular ones!
- Gazebos and arbors: These features are great for adding decoration to your yard, enhancing the beauty of the area as well as giving you a nice, shady spot to sit.
- Stone walkways: These are great for yards and gardens. They will make it easier to walk around in your yard as well as add a beautiful touch that you can customize any way you want. For example, if you have kids, you can do handprints on each stone!
- Fountains: Adding a stone or ceramic fountain to your yard is a great way to add some class to your yard. Water features are loved by many and incorporating a fountain into your landscaping can even be great for the plants if done properly!
- Fences: Need a border for your yard that is both functional and attractive? Consider a nice fence as a part of your hardscaping. You can do them with wood or metal (you can get very decorative with the metal ones).
- Brick patios: A more decorative patio than just plain concrete, this hardscape feature will make for a gorgeous area to lounge and congregate with family and friends. You could also stick with the bare concrete for simplicity, make a tiled patio, or use flagstone.
- Walls: Retaining walls for sloping yards are a great hardscape option to make a good garden area or to add a play area for kids and pets. You could also add a sitting wall around the edge of your patio to, as you may have guessed, create more seating space.
- Fire pits: A personal favorite, a fire pit can be made simply or become a statement piece for your hardscaping. While Florida may not get very cold, these fire pits will still be so nice to get cozy around in the fall and winter months. Perfect for long conversations with friends or s’mores nights with the family, fire pits make an excellent addition to any backyard.
Ok, let’s recap: hardscapes are the various man-made features that are a part of your home’s landscape, like patios, fences, and fountains. These types of features make your home inviting, functional, and aesthetically pleasing for yourself and your guests. If you’re going through renovations or getting to design your own home, why not try some of these out? We hope you feel inspired to try something new with your home after reading this, and we look forward to seeing you back here soon!